Richmond International Airport named most efficient small airport in North America

Richmond International Airport has earned the Most Efficient Airport in North America award from the Air Transport Research Society for North American airports with fewer than 5 million passengers annually. The award was announced July 2 at the organization’s 26th World Conference in Kobe, Japan. It was RIC’s first win from ATRS, recognized as one of the most reputable aviation research societies in the world.

The organization gives four efficiency awards for North American airports; the others are for airports with 5 million to 15 million annual passengers; 15 million to 40 million annual passengers; and more than 40 million annual passengers.

“We are thrilled to win this award and we could not have done it without our fantastic team,” said Perry J. Miller, the president and CEO of RIC. “We’ve been an economic engine for our region for almost a century – generating about $2.1 billion in economic impact per year – and it’s because everyone here is committed to delivering an extraordinary travel experience. We want the world to know what RIC and the Greater Richmond region has to offer.”

The award is granted based on performance indicators including productivity and operating/management efficiency, and airport charge comparisons. In 2021, the airport began facility updates to welcome international travel, which included a now complete Concourse A expansion, preparing for additional ramp space, and customs upgrades to meet global travel protocols. Last year, RIC was named the Best Little Big Airport in the world by Business Focus Magazine. This year, RIC has increased its direct service options by 36%.

“RIC has had a direct impact on local business vitality, resident happiness, and increased tourism spending,” said Henrico Board of Supervisors Chairman Frank Thornton. “And you can see that they’re not content to rest on their laurels; they’re deliberately taking steps to improve. For instance, the addition of new and affordable nonstop options to popular destinations like San Francisco and New Orleans has moved the needle for RIC – and for us as a region.”

“If you have the same flight pattern, you’ll keep arriving at the same destination,” says Miller. “We are laying new groundwork to grow as an airport of choice, one that leads the way in the future of our industry. This means a lot of exciting projects in the works, like making flights available to Canada, the Caribbean, Europe, and Japan, and building a hands-on facility where the future generation of workers can learn about the aviation industry. If you think we’ve done great things so far, you’ll be thrilled to see what’s on the horizon.”